Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-03
Farmers Institute.
APPmS.
THEIR CULTURE AND THE VARIETIES
BEST SUITED TO SOUTHWESTERN
WISCONSIN.
A.v KNAPP.

z
apple. 1t is supposed to be developed
from the crab that is found growing
wild in both this and the Eastern hemis-
phere. In its native state it has but
little value, but possesses infinite cap
acity for development, principally by
grating. When this process began is
not known nor by whom originated.
The Romans are supposed to have had
more than twenty varieties, while we
have to-day upward of thousand, but
in the passage Of years old foundation
varieties have been lost, and so how
much we have gained in quality of fruit
and capacity of endurance is not known.
The kinds of apples vary with the
soils and latitude in which they are cul-
tiyated and the study of the apple-raiser
is to find the kinds best adapted to our
climate and soil and then to perseyere
patiently.
When | was 4 boy of Is | planted,
grated and had the care of small nur-
sery, and used frequently to say that if
| could not raise fine winter apples
would not farm at ALL But the effects
of cold weather in the last few winters
has been so terrible that / have been
compelled to change my mind, unless
some new and harder winter varieties
are developed. The first thing in plant
ing an orchard is the site; people used
to think that the orchard should be shell
tered, SO one of my neighbors planted
his where it was sheltered on three sides
by thick groves of second-growth TIM
Der, but it has suffered as badly or worse
than the more exposed. One thing is
certain, that in this state other things
being equal, the exposed orchards stand
the cold winters best. The top of the
bluff is unexcelled. If possible the soil
should be clay, and dry. | know of one
man who thought that the great porous
ness of our soil enabled the tap-roots to
grow too large, and as he said, oyerfed
the tree So he buried two feet from the
surface before setting the tree, as large
fiat stone as he could find and claimed
that his next setting did well. Trees
should be set about 30 feet apart. But
what varieties can | set out with safety.
Experience has taught me some valuable
lessons.
SUMMER AND FALL APPLES.
The Transcendent and Hyslop crabs
should have place in every orchard.
The Duchess of Oldenburg is without
doubt the most hardy and best bearer of
all the genuine apple family and is easily
raised-anybody can raise it. / began
about u years ago resetting my orchard
and chose the above named varieties,
then the Red Astrachan, Letofska, Fa-
meus, American Golden Russell and the
Willow Twig. All grew nicely and
began to bear, with the following result:
All the crab-apple trees are in fine con-
dition and about one-half of the Red
Astrachans are badly singed, the Duchess
are sound and thrifty and bear bounti-
fully every year, and the Letofska have
done equally as well, but one of the ten
Famous remains alive. About three
fourths of the Russets are alive and in
fair condition. The Willow Twigs are
all dead, and have lost little of my
faith in the thought that we have some
that are climate proof.
IRoNCLADs.
Comparatively few winter varieties
will stand the climate and do well in
Southwestern Wisconsin, and will not
recommend a list. For summer and
fall use the Letofska and the Duchess
of Oldenburg are the very best and both
appear to be hardy and constant bearers.
In early Fall the ST. Lawrence and Alex
ander are good. have an Alexander
tree over 80 years old and in good con-
dition. For late fall and early winter
apples the Kaump is undoubtedly the
best This apple was originated by the
late VIM. Kaump, in this county, town
of Harrison. He planted this Seeding
about 40 years ago and it began bearing
very young; he planted an orchard of
this variety and told me just before his
death that the tree had never failed to
produce a crop. The orchard. too.
never failed fair yield, and in alternate
years an enormous crop. The apple is
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